Feminine hygiene article holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for a feminine hygiene article is secured on the user&#39;s body and retains an unused personal item in a discreet inconspicuous position. The holder is formed as a pouch, or pocket having a front panel and a back panel attached to the front panel. A belt is detachably secured to the holder body and to the user&#39;s waist. Slots formed in the sides of the holder body allow the belt to pass into the interior of the holder body. Securing members, such as buttons, attached to the opposing ends of the belt are engageable with slits formed in the back panel. Alternatively, the holder body can be secured to an article of clothing worn by the user. To this end, the back panel is provided with a pair of openings, which are adapted to receive a safety pin or securing pin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a feminine sanitary protection article holder, and more particularly to a pouch for housing a feminine hygiene article in a discreet manner.

Personal hygiene products, such as sanitary napkins, panty liners and tampons are usually packaged for retail purposes in deformable containers such as pouches, sachets and the like. Such products and articles may be individually wrapped or stacked in a box housing ten or more of similar items. The boxes are often too bulky for carrying in a handbag or backpack. As a consequence, a user takes out several of such items from the box when the user expects to be away from home for several hours.

At work or at school, the user can retrieve one of the personal hygiene articles from her handbag or backpack and change the article in a discreet location. However, there are situations when the user may be embarrassed to openly remove the article from her bag and carry it through a roomful of people. For instance, when a class is in session and the user wishes to leave to attend to her personal hygiene, she may be reluctant to show the reason for her short departure to the entire class. An alternative of carrying an entire backpack may not be feasible.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a holder for personal hygiene items that can be worn by the user in a discreet unobtrusive manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a holder for a feminine hygiene article that can be positioned on the body of the user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a holder for a feminine hygiene article that can be secured to the user's closing in a discreet location.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a holder for a feminine hygiene article that can be configured for housing a different type of product.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a holder for a feminine hygiene article, which is formed as a pocket or pouch. The holder comprises a holder body having a front panel, a back panel attached to the front panel to define a partially closed pouch, and a belt for securing the holder body on a body of a user. The belt is detachably secured to the holder body and to the user's waist. Slots formed in the sides of the holder body allow the belt to pass into the interior of the holder body. Securing members, such as buttons, attached to the opposing ends of the belt are engageable with slits formed in the back panel.

Alternatively, the holder body can be secured to an article of clothing worn by the user. To this end, the back panel is provided with a pair of openings, which are adapted to receive a safety pin or securing pin. The securing pin is attached to the holder body and to the clothing of the user.

The holder of the present invention can be worn under the user's outer clothing and retain the personal hygiene item inconspicuously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein

FIG. 1 is a front view of the feminine hygiene article holder configured for retaining a sanitary napkin.

FIG. 2 is a back view of the holder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a belt for securing the holder of the present invention on the body of the user.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the feminine hygiene article holder configured for retaining a tampon.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the holder of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the feminine hygiene article holder configured for retaining a panty liner.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the holder of FIG. 6.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the article holder in accordance with the present invention. The holder 10 comprises a front panel 12, a back panel 14 secured to the front panel 12, a first closed end portion 16, a first side portion 18 and a second side portion 20. The back panel 14 can be secured to the front panel 12 by stitching, or by adhesive, or by other suitable method. A second end portion 22 is open. A flap 24 selectively covers and uncovers the open-end portion 22.

The flap 24 has an interior surface, which carries a closing member 25. The closing member 25 may be a piece of hook-and-loop fastener, a snap, a button, or any other type of a closing member. If hook-and-loop fastener is used for the closing member 25 a matching piece of hook-and-loop fastener is attached to the front panel 12 in alignment with the closing member 25 to allow retention of a feminine hygiene article positioned in the holder 10.

The first side portion 18 is partially closed, and an open slot 30 is formed in the first side portion 18 between the front panel 12 and the back panel 14 to allow passage of a belt 32 therethrough. The second side portion 20 is also partially closed, and an open slot 34 is formed in alignment with the slot 30 to allow passage of the belt 32 through the slot into the housing formed by the front panel 12 and the back panel 14.

The belt 32 has an elongated narrow body configured for passing through the slots 30 and 34. The belt 32 has opposing ends 36, 38. A button 37 is attached to the end 36, and a button 39 is attached to the end 38. The belt 32 may be formed from an elastic stretchable material or from a soft flexible material formed as a closed pouch, within which a stretchable band is positioned. Stretchable band will allow accommodation of the holder 10 to various size users.

The back panel 14 is provided with a pair of spaced-apart slits 42 and 43 configured to allow the buttons 37, 39 to be engaged therethrough. The slits 42, 43 are slightly larger than the diameter of the buttons 37, 39 so as to allow the belt 32 to be selectively engaged and disengaged from the back panel 14. When worn by a user, the belt 32 encircles the waist of the user allowing the holder 10 to be retained on the waist.

A pair of spaced-apart openings 45, 46 is formed in the back panel 14 a distance from the first set of slits 42, 43. Each opening 45, 46 is adapted for retaining a pin 48 on the back panel 14. The pin passes through the openings 45, 46 to allow the holder 10 to be secured to an article of the user's apparel, such as pants or jeans, which are usually tight-fitting, without adding any substantial bulk to the user's waist.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the holder 50 for retaining a tampon is shown in more detail. The holder 50 is similar in many aspects to the holder 10 except that its generally rectangular configuration lends itself to accommodating elongated items. Of course, the holder 50 can be made oval, if desired, as long as its length is suitable for retaining a tampon.

Similarly to the holder 10, the holder 50 comprises a front panel 52 and a back panel 54 attached to the front panel 12. The holder 50 comprises a first closed end portion 56, a first side portion 58, and a second side portion 50. A second end portion 62 is open, and is covered with a flap 64. A closing member 68 is attached to an inner surface of the flap 64 for engaging with a matching closing member (not shown) secured to an outside surface of the front panel 12.

A open slot 70 is formed in the first side portion 58 between the front panel 52 and the back panel 54, while the remained length of the panel sides is secured together. A matching open slot 72 is formed in alignment with the open slot 70. Similarly to the slots 30, 34, the slots 70, 72 allow passage of the belt 32 therethrough.

The back panel 54 is provided with a pair of spaced-apart slits 74, 75, through which the button 37, 39 can extend to secure the holder 50 and the belt 32 on the user's waist. A pair of spaced-apart openings 76, 77 allows a pin 78 to be engaged to the back panel and for the holder 50 to be engaged with an article of the user's apparel.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a holder 80 configured for housing a pantyliner. The holder 80, similarly to the holders 10 and 50, forms a pouch or pocket for retaining a feminine hygiene article. The holder 80 comprises a front panel 82 and a back panel 84 attached to the front panel 12. Side slots 85, 86 allow securing of the holder 80 on the belt 32 and thus—to the user's waist. The first end portion 90 is closed, while the second end portion 92 is open and covered by a flap 94. A closing member 96 allows securing of the flap to the front panel 82.

A first side portion 98 and a second side portion 99 are partially closed, except for the slots 85 and 86. A pair of spaced-apart slits 100, 102 formed in the back panel 84 allows securing of the belt buttons 37, 39 to the holder 80. A pair of spaced-apart openings 104, 105 allows securing of a pin 106 to the holder 80. The pin 106 can be used for attaching the holder 80 to an article of clothing worn by the user, either pants or undergarments.

The holders 10, 50 and 80 can be worn with or without the belt 32. It is envisioned that the belted holder will be particularly advantageous when worn with a skirt, while a pinned pouch may be worn with pants. In that case, the belt 32 is disengaged from the holder body, and instead, the pin is used. The holder of the present invention allows a user to retain an article of hygiene inconspicuously. If desired, the belted holder can be moved below the waist, with the belt 32 encircling the hips of the user.

The holder 10, 50 and 80 can be made of a wide variety of flexible materials, such as textiles, nylon, polyester, thin plastic sheet and the like. The material forming the front and back panels may be neutral in color or can be decorated with any special design.

Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. We therefore pray that our rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A holder for a feminine hygiene article, comprising: a holder body comprising a front panel and a back panel attached to the front panel, said back panel being provided with a means for securing the holder body on a body of a user.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a belt means for securing the holder body on the body of the user.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said holder body is provided with a first closed end portion, a second selectively opened end portion, a first side portion and a second side portion.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said first side portion and said second side portion are provided with an elongated slot allowing the belt means to pass therethrough.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said belt means comprises a flexible stretchable belt member having opposing ends, and wherein a securing member is mounted on each of the opposing ends.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein said securing member is a button.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein said back portion is provided with a first set of spaced-apart slits, and wherein the securing member is detachably engageable with a corresponding slit of said first set of slits.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for securing the holder body comprises a pair of spaced-apart openings formed in the back panel, said openings being configured for receiving a securing pin therein to facilitate securing of the holder body to an article of clothing worn by the user.
 9. The device of claim 3, wherein said holder body carries a flap for selectively closing the second selectively opened end portion.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said flap is provided with a closing member adapted for engaging a matching closing member secured on the front panel.
 11. A holder for a feminine hygiene article, comprising: a holder body having a front panel, a back panel attached to the front panel to define a partially closed pouch, and a belt means for securing the holder body on a body of a user.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said holder body is provided with a first closed end portion, a second selectively opened end portion, a first side portion and a second side portion.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein a slot is formed in the first side portion and an aligned slot is formed in the second slide portion, and wherein said belt means is configured for passing through said slots.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said belt means comprises an elongated flexible stretchable member having opposing ends, and wherein a belt securing member is attached to each of the opposing ends.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein the back panel is provided with a pair of spaced-apart slits to allow securing of the belt securing members to the holder body.
 16. The device of claim 1, wherein a pair of spaced-apart openings is formed in the back panel, said openings being configured for receiving a securing pin therein to facilitate securing of the holder body to an article of clothing worn by the user.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein said holder body carries a flap for selectively closing the second selectively opened end portion.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein said flap is provided with a closing member adapted for engaging a matching closing member secured on the front panel. 